Design Days Dubai | 6th Edition | 14 – 17 March 2017 | Dubai Design District (D3)
- The world’s most diverse design fair dedicated to collectable design
- The largest number of exhibitors to date, 50; record UAE participation
- Range of prices appeal to both next generation of collectors and seasoned collectors
Design Days Dubai returns for its sixth edition with the largest number of exhibitors to date (50). Design Days Dubai is the Middle East and South Asia’s only annual fair dedicated to collectible modern and contemporary design works.
A pillar event of Art Week, Design Days Dubai this year moves to a new location, Dubai Design District (d3), the home for the region’s design and creative industries. As part of the new move, the fair has commissioned the Dubai-based architecture practice a hypothetical office to add a series of new features to the venue including a new face and floor plan. Design Days Dubai has the continued support of returning sponsors since its 2012 launch edition, including the strategic partnership of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Van Cleef & Arpels and Audi.
A record number of design galleries and studios based in the Emirates, GCC and wider region will exhibit in March. This year’s first-time regional exhibitors are: Ayah Al Bitar, AYKA Design, CarpertsCC by Cecilia Setterdahl, Jafar Dajani, Michael Rice and Nader Gammas (all from the UAE), Apical Reform (India), Aperçu Designs (Jordan), Marie Munier (Lebanon), and Dahr Design (Saudi Arabia).
As a notable symbol of the growth and maturity of the design landscape in the UAE and beyond, additional strong regional representation can be seen through the high number of returning exhibitors, including: Aljoud Lootah, Cities, Fatima Bint Mohammed Initiative, MB&F M.A.D. Gallery and Nakkash Gallery (all from UAE); Nisreen and Nermaan Abu Dail of Naqsh Collective (Jordan). Iwan Maktabi and Vick Vanlian (both Lebanon), Coalesce (Pakistan); and Aisha Al-Sowaidi (Qatar). And, for the first time since Design Days Dubai’s launch edition, vintage design will be presented, by specialists in mid-century modern, MCML Studio (UAE).
Design Days Dubai 2017 sees the return of Coletivo Amor de Madre (Brazil) with award-winning multidisciplinary Atelier Marko Brajovic; The Crafts Council (UK), bringing eleven UK-based contemporary makers; and Dutch Creative Industry, the benchmark for design from the Netherlands; whilst welcoming newcomers Todd Merrill Studio (NYC), a leading voice in contemporary collectible design; Paris and Los Angeles based concept store/gallery L’Eclaireur; and, Territoire(s) (Paris) at the cross section of art and design.
The fair remains a catalyst to the development of the design community in the UAE and the wider region and is a well-known launch pad for nascent designers. In previous years, UAE-based designers have been spotted at Design Days Dubai by international museums. In 2015, Aljoud Lootah had two items from her debut collection acquired for the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne); and, in 2016, two of Amar Kalo’s pieces were acquired by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York. Other designers that achieved international press and industry acclaim through Design Days Dubai include david/nicholas from Lebanon, Studio Swine from the UK, and Art Factum (now Joy Mardini Gallery) from Lebanon, which after launching the fair has gone on to exhibit worldwide.
Design Days Dubai manages and supports initiatives that focus on a brand new generation of UAE-based designers. These include partnerships with Van Cleef & Arpels (the fifth edition of Van Cleef & Arpel’s Middle East Emergent Designer Prize), Audi (Audi Innovation Award), art and design organisaton Tashkeel (the fourth season of Tashkeel’s successful design programme, Tanween), and Dubai Culture and d3 (the third Urban Commissions competition).
Alongside its diverse exhibitor line-up, is an incredibly popular programme of special projects, talks, workshops and guided tours (details to be announced beginning of March).
Design Days Dubai is owned and managed by Art Dubai Group and is held under Art Week, an umbrella initiative bringing together the UAE’s arts and culture-centered happenings in the month of March with the aim of promoting the cultural activities of the region to both residents and visitors.
Design Days Dubai is presented under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and is held in partnership with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the Emirate’s dedicate Authority for culture, arts and heritage; with the Ladies Preview under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.
Designdaysdubai.ae | @DesignDaysDubai | #DDD2017